What are you talking about?
Robert faltered.
Im talking about your gift for creating new things, he said, clearly lying. Today we will visit a secret facility. For a long time, my partners and I, he said the last word with his lips pressed tightly together, have been trying to find a cure for our world something that could make everything new. And, today, perhaps we will succeed. It would be symbolic for an innovator like you to appreciate our efforts.
Well, Adam cleared his throat. Im honored. I still dont fully understand this intense interest in me. Im not a genius, Im just an engineer, but I have to admit, you can be intriguing.
I do, Robert said cryptically, and then fell silent.
The watch on the wrist counted down the seconds. Five minutes later, the car passed a large embankment and stopped. The doors clicked open. The small space, surrounded by an embankment that hid the horizon from view, had a single entrance. There was no checkpoint, no gate, not even a barrier. In general, it looked more like a bomb crater with a cleared area at the bottom than a protected secret facility. For a moment he thought Robert was playing a practical joke, but Audley nodded and the whole place came to life. The security men emerged from the escort cars. They scattered around the perimeter, clearly and coherently taking up defensive positions. A dozen drones flew into the sky, and the entry point was quickly blocked by an armored vehicle. After another minute, a captain with the strange surname of Khrenin approached Robert and handed him the remote control.
Everything is ready, the guard captain briefly reported.
Audley scanned his finger, pressed one of the two buttons on the remote. A slight vibration ran through the ground and, along with a muffled, distant hum, subsided. An elevator car appeared from the ground, shedding sand and gravel.
Theres no communication down there, Robert said, turning to Adam. All electronic devices will have to be left at the gatehouse. If you need to call or e-mail anyone, I suggest you do it now. We wont be able to do that for the next three hours.
The personal electronic assistant on his arm was already doing a thorough check, glowing a distinctive color. Adam started up the assistant as well. There was one unread message from Annet:
«Honey, good luck to you! Ive found the perfect place for our evening and I really want to share the big news with you! Text me when youre done and Ill send you the address. Love you!».
Fifth wedding anniversary. Adam had forgotten even about her. Yesterday had thrown him completely out of his normal life. He didnt answer anything. Hed rather call when it was over, tell Annet how much he loved her, and give her the natural pearl necklace that had been in his workshop for a week. Annet loved pearls, no doubt she would be delighted with such a gift. Adam turned off the assistant with a shudder in his chest.
The elevator descended silently. On the scoreboard, which counted meters, not floors, the number with a minus sign was increasing rapidly. «Minus one hundred and fifty,» the elevator stopped and slid open. At the beginning of a long, metal-clad corridor, a man sat behind thick bars. He produced two portable safes for electrical appliances and personal effects. A couple of minutes, two clicks of the locks closing, an additional inspection and the way was clear.
The precautions must be a little confusing to you, Robert began, tapping his heels with each step. Ill try to explain, the smile faded from his face. Youre a good engineer, Adam, thats for sure. Probably the best I know. But beyond that, theres another link between us. Its whats driving me to make you an offer. He paused. Working at the Center is not the limit of your ambition, I know that. We work on a whole different level. You wont have to invent a support staff. Youll be able to concentrate on more meaningful projects, perhaps even personal ones. Weve had your Infantryman and Sergeant robotic platforms for eight years. Working with them is a real pleasure, so the management of the company has made a decision, and now I am offering you a permanent job with us. We will increase your salary in two times and add percentages from the realization of all the systems you have created.
Robert looked at Adam, wanting to see some reaction on his face, but seeing none, he put his smile back on and spoke less seriously.
You think about it, while I tell you exactly what were doing here. Youre at one of four secret RoboticsGangIndustries test sites. This facility is where we test some of our most powerful innovation projects. One of them is being tested today.
He approached the massive gate blocking the entire passage and scanned his retinas. The thick flaps hissed open, letting the men through.
Our company has always been interested in innovation, not separating science from the gun business, Robert continued with a sigh. Almost three centuries ago, our founding fathers realized that it wasnt enough to just make rifles. They needed to look to the future. So they created the first scientific innovation bureau under the umbrella of a weapons company.
A platoon of soldiers, armored from head to toe, walked down the corridor. Adam, no longer surprised by the presence of armed men, looked at them with interest and listened attentively.
What was presented to people as the ingenious developments of one or a couple of people was in fact the result of the work of dozens and sometimes hundreds of outstanding scientific figures. Aviation, artillery, communications none of this would have happened if it werent for our companys forebears. Does «Manhattan Project» mean anything to you? Audley asked, turning his head.
The creation of the nuclear bomb Yes, I studied history at university.
Thats right! Robert affirmed with satisfaction. It took mankind nearly a hundred years to unlock the secrets of the atom and tame its power. Now crowds seek to destroy that legacy, not realizing that without it there would be no world as we know it. Everything in the chain stands in its place and everything is interconnected, good and bad, black and white. No matter how much we want to, one cannot exist without the other. We thought nuclear reactions were a powerful source of energy release. That was until the scientific community started talking about antimatter and its almost magical properties. More than a century ago, we supported research institutes and financed the creation of the Large Hadron Collider. Thus, for the first time in two thousand sixty-fourth year, we obtained a stable antimatter atom and were able to begin the real study of its properties.
The corridor came to a new thick metal barrier. Robert scanned his retina again, and the passage opened. The spacious room was filled with about forty people in strange white and dark orange jumpsuits with air filtration systems on their faces. They sat at consoles and monitors, running from desk to desk, muttering to each other and meaningfully writing data on a huge digital board. A large holographic table stood in the middle of the room, with an underground horizontal nuclear test site projected above it.
So, Audley continued, descending the small staircase, shouting over the conversations of the scientists. In the sixty-fourth year, we got the first stable atom. It turned out that its potential energy capabilities are dozens of times higher than we had predicted. To obtain this energy it was enough to extract a particle from the vacuum, and no waste pure and powerful energy! It was a breakthrough. But it was not easy to synthesize industrially stable antimatter.
Hello, welcome to the control center of the New Day range! greeted the pleasant voice of the artificial intelligence.
Later! Robert said carelessly and waved away the hologram of the girls assistant. He walked over to the small system control panel, made a few notes, and turned back to Adam. What was I saying? Antimatter, right! He answered his own question. There are only five grams of antimatter in the world right now. Because of our financial involvement, we have one of them at our firing range today. There are four thousand high-capacity batteries all around the hangar, and this gram will provide us and the collider with energy of the highest quality for many years, charging all of them. It will allow us to increase antimatter production tenfold. Well, theres plenty of options on where to apply this power. We will usher in a new era!
I dont know what to say, Adam said, both confused and delighted. My head is spinning. So many things
Gentlemen, the dialog was interrupted by one of the men in coveralls, who suddenly appeared nearby. You need to wear these for your own safety.
A short, stocky man handed over two dark orange overalls and respirators with an air filtration system. Having put on the protective suits, the newcomers sat down at the holographic table and began to watch the last preparations. On the hologram, people in the same white and dark orange jumpsuits were running around the huge hangar, which served as a testing ground. They were debugging battery power systems, adjusting fasteners, installing sensors, checking their performance.
Is this range anywhere near here, or are we seeing the broadcast from afar?
Relatively close Robert answered the question and shook his head. Its five kilometers from us and nine hundred and forty meters below us. You figure out for yourself whether its close or not.
Adam smiled, but decided to elaborate:
Is it safe?
From three hundred meters and deeper there is hard rock. Its perfect for holding back any disturbances. This site has been used to test nuclear bombs up to a hundred and twenty megatons. Antimatter doesnt have the same destructive effect. Its reaction when it comes in contact with other substances is self-destruction, releasing massive amounts of clean energy. Were perfectly safe, Audley reassured him.
The people from the image of the range disappeared. Another man in overalls entered the control center and, with a thumbs-up, gave the countdown. A siren wailed, and an announcers voice from the old days clearly counted down the seconds: «Ten, nine, eight, seven". A vibration came from somewhere above.
Whats that? Adam inquired.
Thats aviation dropping bombs on the ground test site. Thats how we cover the vibrations of underground testing, he received a curt reply.
The countdown continued: «Three, two, one» nothing happened on the image of the underground test site. Everything around him froze in anticipation. Unable to bear the prolonged pause, Robert jumped up and, hitting the table angrily, shouted at the scientists staring at the monitors:
You made a mistake! It was supposed to the image of the polygon flashed, and he was silent.
Mr. Audley, look! The gauges are going off the scale, it worked!
Indeed, the batteries were charging at breakneck speed. In seconds, they were filled to the brim with energy. Deep below, there was a rumbling and grinding sound, and all the furniture in the control center began to shake. The scientists tensed, an effect they clearly hadnt expected. The image of the hangar-polygon showed a small flask of antimatter, and from it green streams of unknown substance flew out at a furious speed, rushing upwards and wriggling like kites. It quickly filled the entire polygon, and then, ignoring any obstacles, rushed upward.
The rumbling from downstairs was growing. It was coming fast.
Everyone stay where you are! Robert commanded. Whats on the instruments?
The instruments have reached their limits, they are holding them! replied one of the people sitting at the monitor.
Okay, so its coming up.
The underground rumbling grew stronger, and soon it was backed up by a siren and an announcers voice: «Danger of collapse, seismic instability, leave the facility according to the evacuation plan. Danger, evacuate the facility according to the evacuation plan».
We have to go» the man in glasses sitting behind the monitor said in a half-voice. We have to go, alarm! Cant you hear it?!
Everyone had heard, and everyone but Robert was of the same opinion.
Im afraid nobodys leaving here, he said in a cold voice. Gentlemen, thank you for your work. The words were drowned out by the explosion of the monitor, the hologram swam, the lights flickered, but the speaker was not deterred. I must inform you that the doors are blocked on my order, he said with a smile at the excitement of the people. Today is a great day! You and I have done the impossible, gentlemen, we have changed everything!
Open the door, you fucking innovator! one of those who had already made it to the exit couldnt stand it.
Robert, youre crazy, were all going to die here! the other one supported him.
Adam was the one who decided to go for the more obvious measures. He had checked the door himself and it was indeed locked, and the artificial intelligence of the complex, even with the use of the developers codes, had also failed. He came up close to Robert and grabbed him by his clothes.
Come to your senses, Audley! Were all going to get slammed in here. You promised me an unforgettable experience, well, I got it, now get us out of here!
No, naive young man, theres no way out of this. You see, the best effect requires sacrifice. The strongest energy is produced before death, especially when one realizes it is coming. There is no better food for energy, he hesitated, searching for the right word. Divine, he said, finding it, Than our emotions and feelings, than our faith. Everyone here is already condemned! he laughed and spread his arms out to the sides. In the new world Annet will not be with you, she will belong to me. Yes, yes, everything in the new world will belong to me!
You sick bastard! Adam punched Robert in the face and he fell to the floor, losing his respirator.
The lamps and monitors continued to explode, throwing off sparks, driving the terrified range workers to madness. Some of them heard the words about the victim, and in a flamboyant manner hurried to inform the others. A real panic began. People knocked on the door, screamed, fell on their knees and prayed, someone took out electronic devices from hiding places and tried to call relatives and rescuers. Soon the first scream of horror was heard, quickly fading into a faint wheeze. A green substance began to seep into the room through the floor and walls. Those of its tongues that managed to reach the people were convulsing them, as if sucking the life out of them. With each passing second, the victims became more numerous, as did the branches of the green substance. Adam, cut off from the blocked exit, jumped over one of its branches and almost stepped on Robert, who was sitting on the floor.
Youre clever! laughed the man. But you cant escape fate.
Whats that stuff coming out of everywhere?!
Ah, this is the power from the other side of reality. It will bring the Universe and everything beyond it into balance and harmony. Our side will return to the source.
What sides, what harmony?! People are dying here!
Everyone sees the world in his own image, and everyone is right, because there are an infinite number of meanings in it. However, the truth, the one and only truth, is one, and today all mankind is learning it.